Responsible Beverage Service Training Program

Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training under the requirements of AB 1221 (Gonzalez, 2017) will become mandatory on July 1, 2022. Any California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licensee who has an “ABC On-Premises License,” including winery tasting rooms, will need to have all alcohol servers and managers trained and certified in RBS no later than Aug. 31. New staff will have 60 days from the date of initial employment to receive certification.

Wine Institute Member Discounted Training Programs

Wine Institute is working with associate members who are certified by ABC to conduct online and in-person RBS training courses to provide discounted rates. Please visit the online Member Hub for a list of associate member providers, rates, and training options and a definition of the employees required to complete the training.

Registration, Training and Online Exam

All alcohol servers and managers will need to do the following:

• Register with the ABC.
• Take an ABC approved RBS training course.
• Pass an online exam administered by ABC.

Once an individual has successfully completed the training and exam, the certification will remain valid for three years. The alcohol server certification must be renewed prior to its expiration to remain valid.

Resources

Information on registration, training, and the online exam can be found on the ABC RBS portal page.

For more information on the RBS program, including who needs to be trained, visit the ABC FAQ web page.